Champions share secrets to success

Jackson Ltorisha celebrates with fellow students at Good Shepherd Seminary School in Maralal, Tuesday.  Ltorisha, who wants to study medicine, scored an A minus. [PHOTO: BOAZ KIPNGENO/STANDARD]

By Standard Team

Kenya: Some were in hospitals caring for sick relatives. Others were quenching their thirst for knowledge at the library. Some were in classrooms, volunteering as untrained teachers.

A number were listening to the radio or watching television, enjoying the break after four years of hard work, when news of their conquest broke. Some were shocked to learn they had performed so well. But a few expected to be champions. They had worked hard and believed in triumph. This is the narrative of the 2013 KCSE examination top candidates.

Majority of top students we spoke to across the country have a bias towards science related courses as as their subjects of study in campus. They are in love with engineering courses, from software engineering, electrical engineering, marine engineering, aeronautical engineering, petroleum and chemical engineering to financial engineering. None dreamt of art related courses.

They want to be neurosurgeons, economists, cardiologists, general medical doctors, actuarial scientists and economists.

The top students largely attributed their success to God, discipline, hard work, good teachers and family or guardian support.

The University of Nairobi was the favourite local university for most of them, with few wishing to pursue further studies abroad.

Alliance High School’s King’ori Tom Wanderi, the best student nationally, said learning had to be balanced with adequate rest and a little play. The basketball player wants to be a petroleum and chemical engineer.

“I am happy and did not expect this result. I cannot forget to say learning has to be balanced with adequate rest and a little play,” Wanderi said.

Maranda’s Obiero Aloo Shem, the second best nationally, plans to pursue Medicine at the University of Nairobi and attributes his good results to hard work and discipline.

Collective effort

Before his big day, Aloo was a volunteer at Bar-Union Primary School as untrained teacher. Angela Nzisa, the top female candidate, attributed her success to a collective effort from herself, parents and teachers. She is also eyeing Medicine studies at the University of Nairobi, majoring in gynaecology.

Nairobi County’s top candidate Norah Chelagat, the fourth best countrywide, wants to be an economist.

“I want to save the country from the ailing low growth of income per capita,” said Chelagat, who loves playing the piano.

Nairobi School’s Brian Osoro, the fifth best candidate, was busy at a library in Kisii when he got the news.

“I have always tried to put my best in anything I do and leaving everything to God to do His will and that’s why I scored highly,” said Osoro, who wants to pursue actuarial science.

Lawrence Momanyi, the top performing visually impaired candidate, draws his inspiration from other visually impaired persons like Dr Imaana Laibuta and Dr Samuel Tororei, both commissioners at constitutional commissions, who have made great strides in life despite being blind.

“I had many challenges compared to other sighted students, so getting an A- (minus) is a great achievement,” he said with a big smile.

He wants to pursue economics at the University of Nairobi and be the country’s best economist. The best student in Embu County, Godfrey Eric Muuendo, credits his fete to hard work as a team with class friends.

Muuendo would wake up at 3.00am with his friends and they would study up to 6am. He would then sleep for 50 minutes to get fresh for the day’s activities. He would later study until 12.30am.

“I am torn between becoming a medical doctor or a biochemist. I would advise other students to work while fresh, make a summary of their notes, change their attitudes towards subjects they consider hard and work smart,” Muuendo said.

He received the news of his performance while at a hospital in Rongai, caring for his sick sister. 

Elaine Mashisia, of St Francis Rang’ala Girls High School in Siaya County, ranked the fourth best girl nationally, wants to be a neurosurgeon.

“I am teaching Mathematics at Kamashia Secondary School because I do not want just to sit idle,” Elaine said on phone. 

Homa Bay County’s best, Bramuel Nyatogo, urges those sitting their KCSE this year to be disciplined.

Despite a turbulent start where she was sent away from Kenya High School for lack of fees, Agnes Nyaboke Ouko, didn’t give up.

A family friend came to her rescue and paid her fees at Maria Soti Girls Education Centre in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

Agnes now feels her future is no longer bleak after scoring A plain with a mean score of 86.438 and emerged the best girl in her school and Elgeyo Marakwet County. She was number 59 among top 100 female students.

“I want to study software engineering. I have always been fascinated by information technology,” says Agnes.

And 19-year-old Malalo Lizy Chao, who topped Kwale County, hopes to study marine engineering.

She attributed her win to group discussions, revising exam papers, consulting teachers and prayer.

Kariuki Ngina Mungai, the second best student at Thika’s Mary Hill Girls, which was among the top 10 schools, hopes to pursue aeronautical engineering.

Migori County’s top student, Moses Akello Adika, wants to be a cardiologist.

He scored an A plain with 84 points from Kanga High School and said he wasn’t shocked by the results.

“I expected to do well and I thank God for enabling me to top the county. I remained focused in my classwork,” Adika said.

Kabarak’s Dennis Ariemba Kinyori, ranked position three in Nakuru County and position 31 nationally, attributed the success to teachers assisting him to improve his weaker subjects and group discussions. Kinyori aspires to study pharmacy.

The top performer in Nyeri County, Robert Wanjau, is hoping for a scholarship to study medicine or engineering abroad.

Kenya High School’s Brenda Biwott did not let the ghosts of the 2007 post-election violence kill her vision. She was forced to transfer to Chakol Primary School in Busia County.

The aspiring neurologist says she has always been intrigued by the workings of the nerves and the brains and would like to pursue that line of training.

“I have wide dreams. The plane intrigues me, the oil reserves in Turkana too. I love business and would love to be a business woman. My dreams are just so wide, though my main focus for now will be neurology,” said Brenda.

Abbas Naeem Essajee, who topped the Coast region, says pressure to perform and maintain the record he had achieved in 2010 KCPE result pushed him to work hard. Abbas hopes to be a neurosurgeon. 

Zainab Noorani Mahmood, who emerged top girl at the Coast, was described by her teachers at Memon High School as a model student throughout the four years.

Her success

Noorani, also the head girl, attributes her success to a good working programme, discipline, prayers and guidance from teachers and parents.

Kirinyaga County’s top student Purity Muthoni Karani, wants to pursue financial engineering.

Taita Taveta County’s best, Samson Mwambui was listening to the radio when he heard the minister mention his name.

“My poor parents struggled to pay my school fees. They had to engage in casual jobs to sustain me and other siblings,” he said.

Dorothy Egosi Wasike Trans-Nzoia County’s top performer, wants to be a doctor. Her peer from Kericho County’s Jackline Chelangat also aspires to be a neurosurgeon.

“I have always dreamt of becoming a neurosurgeon since primary school and at this point I am confident that the dream is almost certain to come true,” she said.

Samburu County’s best, Jackson Letoluai Ltorisha also wants to be a surgeon, while Makueni County’s top girl Faith Mwende Mutuku wants to become an electrical engineer.